Method of fabricating a crushable connector interface

Abstract

A connector is disclosed. The connector includes a conductive housing. The conductive housing includes a wall region enclosing a space for receiving an adapter. The conductive housing also includes an annular end piece extending radially inward from a first end of the wall region and terminating the space. The annular end piece includes a flat annular surface, and a raised deformable annulus mounted on the flat annular surface. The raised deformable annulus is of a height such that an insertion of the adapter into the space deforms the raised deformable annulus to generate a physical contact connection between the flat annular surface and the adapter.

We claim: 
     
       1. A method for fabricating a connector, comprising;
 creating a housing comprising a wall region enclosing a space for receiving an adapter; 
 terminating the wall region with an annular end piece extending radially inward from a first end of the wall region and terminating the space; and 
 creating a raised deformable annulus mounted on a flat annular surface of the annular end piece of a height such that an insertion into the housing of the adapter deforms the raised deformable annulus to generate a physical contact connection between the flat annular surface and the adapter, wherein the raised deformable annulus comprises a conductive material. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein creating the raised deformable annulus further comprises depositing the conductive material on the flat annular surface. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein creating the raised deformable annulus further comprises shaping the annular end piece. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising inserting a dielectric tube into the housing. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 4 , further comprising inserting a center conductive pin within the housing such that the center conductive pin is radially surrounded by the dielectric tube over a portion of a length of the center conductive pin. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising threading the wall region with threads such that a torque used to completely insert the adapter into the connector generates a pressure on the raised deformable annulus greater than a yield strength of a material of the raised deformable annulus. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein creating a raised deformable annulus mounted on a flat annular surface of the annular end piece further comprises creating a raised deformable annulus mounted on a flat annular surface of the annular end piece of a height such that an insertion into the housing of the adapter deforms the raised deformable annulus to generate a 360-degree physical contact connection between the flat annular surface and the adapter. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , wherein creating a raised deformable annulus mounted on a flat annular surface of the annular end piece further comprises creating a raised deformable annulus mounted on a flat annular surface of the annular end piece of a height such that an insertion into the housing of the adapter deforms the raised deformable annulus to generate a gas-tight physical contact connection between the flat annular surface and the adapter.